The 45th Annual Northwest Artists’ Exhibition and First Annual Minute: A Miniature Art Exhibition both opened Friday, July 19th. Many community members and artists stopped by to celebrate one of the largest exhibitions Wilkes Art Gallery has hosted.
There were 230 pieces of artwork came into the Gallery between July 9th and 10th, including submissions for the Northwest Artists’ Exhibition, Minute, and the work of the NAE juror, Betty Powell. 191 pieces were chosen for the exhibitions, with all submitting artists represented throughout the Gallery space.
The 45th Annual Northwest Artists’ Exhibition represents artists who live in or near Northwestern North Carolina and are 16 years of age or older. Artists have submitted original fine art works into the following divisions: Division I: Paintings, Drawings, Lithographs, etc., Division II: Sculpture, Pottery, Metals, etc., and Division III: Mixed Media, Collage, Fibers. Submissions were judged and selected by the juror, Betty Powell. Awards were given out on opening night.
Award winners include:
Best in Show- Margaret Bloomfield Award: “Last Waltz” by Kevin Aita
Most Creative Imagination – Edith Marie Carter Award: “Inspiration” by Doug Peters
Division I – First Place Award: “White Hat” by Kate Worm
Division I- Second Place Award: “Moon Dance #2” by Lori Hill
Division I- Third Place Award: “Autumn River” by Jim Willens
Division II- First Place Award: “The Deuce- Stool Sample #2” by Keegan Watson
Division II- Second Place Award: “Short Ends #2- Birds and Something Completely Different” by Richard Greenwood
Division II- Third Place Award: “Into the Wild Blue Yonder” by Bill Johnston
Division III- First Place Award: “Feathered Friend” by Sally Wincze
Division III- Second Place Award: “Connect / Disconnect” by Melissa Smith
Division III- Third Place Award: “Moving Through Dance Space” by Leslie Karpinski
Honorable Mention- Division I: “Flower Crown” by Lindsay Carroll
Honorable Mention- Division II: “Sisterhood #1” by Phyllis Haile
Honorable Mention- Division III: “Relaxed” by Marion Cloaninger
People’s Choice voting will also take place for the Northwest Artists’ Exhibition and will run through Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. The People’s Choice Award ($100) will be shared on Tuesday, Aug. 20 by 5 p.m. Visitors are allowed to vote once for the Northwest Artists’ Exhibition and for one piece only.
Minute: A Miniature Art Exhibition represents artists of all ages who also live in or near the Northwestern region of North Carolina. Artworks entered into this exhibition are 4 inches by 4 inches and are made from mediums chosen by each artist.
There is also People’s Choice voting for this exhibition which will determine which artists receive first, second and third place awards. Voting will run through Friday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. and will be announced Tuesday, Aug. 20 by 5 p.m. Each visitor is allowed to vote one time for Minute and for one piece only.
Wilkes Art Gallery would like to thank all of the artists in the Northwest Artists’ Exhibition and Minute for submitting artwork as well as Betty Powell for being this year’s NAE juror and showing her latest works. The Gallery would also like to thank The Kulynych Family Foundation and Tonya Bottomley for sponsoring the exhibitions and Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff for providing the canvases for Minute.
For more information on the 45th Northwest Artists’ Exhibition and Minute: A Miniature Art Exhibition, please call the Gallery at 336.667.2841 or visit wilkesartgallery.org/nae-and-minute-info. Wilkes Art Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Gallery is located at 913 C Street / Ward Nichols Way, North Wilkesboro, NC. Admission is free to exhibitions, openings, and other community events.
